Paul Oblon is a financial advisor at &Partners with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Purdue University Phi Kappa Psi alumni network. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private businesses. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by Envestnet and NFS platforms.

Anthony Torreon is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Naperville, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines multiple managed-account programs with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and a distinctive municipal-advisor registration.

Antonio Lugo III is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2016. He also has a role at Smart Wealth Strategies Inc, where he has been involved since 2013. His outside business activities include insurance and annuity products. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser offering fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Ruben Zapata Jr. is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Melrose Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, offering multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Dylan Fisher is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Evernest Financial Advisors and Mitchell, Vaught and Taylor, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a small online reselling business focused on antiques and thrift items. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a range of wealth management and advisory services, employing a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Jessica Freiburg is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with the PFS™ designation and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners and also manages Sassetti LLC, a firm providing tax planning, audit, and advisory services. Freiburg serves as treasurer for the Parks Foundation of Oak Park and volunteers with the Illinois Wesleyan University Council for Women, supporting female students through mentoring and scholarship initiatives. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees with services including investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified mutual fund and ETF allocations aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance, supported by additional offerings such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate planning through third-party providers.

Kenneth Dryfhout is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He has previously worked at BCU, Balance Sheet Solutions LLC, and Feldman Securities Group L.L.C. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management consulting, utilizing both proprietary strategies and third-party models.

Ellen Cassin is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 credential and four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Heinz & Associates and Dashboard Wealth Advisors before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Brittany Williams is a financial advisor at Mariner with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Mariner since 2019. Prior to that, she was with TIAA-CREF from 2015 to 2019. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions alongside traditional portfolio management.

Peter Trinidad Jr. is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Brookstone since 2013 and at Smart Retirement Strategies, Inc. since 2009. In addition to his advisory roles, he is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds, delivering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis through model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts.

Nicholas Maucieri is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with firms including TD Ameritrade and Princor Financial Services Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he officiates youth and high school sports such as football, wrestling, and lacrosse with the Illinois High School Association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Gian Carlo Ornelas is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with two years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2021, including prior experience at Shankland Financial Advisors and Illinois State University. Outside of finance, he has experience in the automotive service sector with Platinum Car Wash. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and integrates tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Philip Monnier is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Western Springs, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC in 2018, he worked at Capital One Advisors, LLC and Capital One Investing, LLC from 2015 to 2018. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party-managed investment strategies.

Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and private investment opportunities.

Paul Schee is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2022, following nine years at Capstone Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs customized, discretionary portfolios supported by an internal management team and third-party managers, and integrates tax and accounting services alongside operational financial wellness tools.

Maxine Mott is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 31 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF and Macy’s. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team, with many client relationships remaining advisor-led and tailored through model portfolios and platform tools.

Linda Sabo is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2010. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm provides a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management consulting, brokerage services, insurance products, and certain M&A advisory services.

Kurt Helmich is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Hightower Advisors and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm employs a mainly long-term investment approach using customized portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income, and offers discretionary management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services.

Versie Walker II is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Naperville, IL, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, Merrill, and Bank of America. He also has experience in a business unrelated to finance, having worked at Hot-N-Poppin Inc. for six years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only discretionary digital account pilot for employees, which uses algorithm-driven portfolio selection and implements investments via approved strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Carla Merlak is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Brookstone since 2016 and also operates Merlak Tax Advisory Group Inc, where she provides tax preparation, planning, and insurance services. Additionally, she is involved with natural wellness product sales and financial and retirement planning through Next Phase Financial LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers fee-based asset management and financial planning primarily through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee programs, utilizing a range of investment strategies including tax-aware and ESG models.